Job detail for Head of NRS Statistical and Data Services

Are you a professional statistician with strong people leadership skills? Are you excited by the opportunity to drive innovation and impact in a high-profile statistics and data services portfolio? If so, we would love to hear from you!

We are looking for an experienced statistician to lead our statistical and data services division. You will be part of the dynamic leadership team of the Statistics, Data Services and Census directorate in National Records of Scotland (NRS). Our mission is to deliver trustworthy, high-quality data and statistics about the people of Scotland that provide public value, support decision-making and inform the future.

You will lead  a division of around 60 statisticians and data professionals. You will oversee the delivery of more than 40 publications on topics which are central to life in Scotland, such as population estimates, population projections, migration, households, and vital events. You will be responsible for data services such as data linkage and indexing, data access, and the National Health Service Central Register. You will drive innovation, automation and continuous improvement across all your teams to maximise the impact of their work and the value of the data they hold.

---

• Lead the delivery of NRS statistical outputs on population, migration, households, births, deaths, life expectancy and other vital events, ensuring adherence to the Code of Practice for Statistics and continuously reviewing the portfolio to maximise its value. Prioritise and plan to deliver NRS’ statistical work programme.

• Oversee the delivery and continuous improvement to NRS data services, such as re-platforming the National Health Service Central Register and transitioning data indexing to Splink, ensuring services are fit for the future and looking for ways to increase quality, efficiency and value. Contribute to NRS setting up a new research service to increase the value generated from our data and archives.

• Lead the modernisation of statistical processes, including moving from SAS to open-source coding and embedding reproducible analytical pipelines across statistical teams to promote transparency, reproducibility and efficiency.

• Build effective relationships across Scottish Government, the Office for National Statistics, the Office for Statistics Regulation, and a range of stakeholders to support the delivery of statistics and data services that meet user needs. Ensure that statistics and data are communicated and promoted effectively and not misused.

• Lead a division of around 60 staff, including line management of 2 C2s, fostering a culture of inclusion, learning and development, continuous improvement, and customer-focussed delivery, ensuring teams have the skills and capability to deliver. Provide clear direction, empowering and motivating staff with a strong focus on continual improvement and championing good statistical practice. Align work to NRS strategy, corporate plan, and SG statistics group priorities.

• Play an active role in the directorate senior leadership team, including as a deputy Head of Profession for statistics. Be a strong advocate for professional standards and development. Contribute to the SG statistics group and wider Government Statistical Service.

Qualifications

A badged member of the Government Statistics Group (GSG)

Proof of membership will be checked at the assessment stage, please make this clear in your application.

Success profile

Success profiles are specific to each job and they include the mix of behaviours, experience and technical criteria (if applicable) that candidates will be assessed on.

Technical / Professional Skills:

1. Acquiring data and understanding customer needs – Grade 6

• Build networks of users and interested parties across a wide area to make best use of multiple new and existing data sources.
• Use knowledge of the wider subject area and liaison with senior users to oversee plans and develop ambitious strategies for statistical development programmes.
• Anticipate future data requirements needed by current and future users.

      2. Data Analysis – Grade 6

• Ensure that innovation is embedded within the team’s culture, and more widely e.g. across department(s).
• Embed a culture of analytical reproducibility, transparency and collaboration within the team and with users.

You can find out more about the skills required, here: GSG framework

Behaviours:

1. Managing a quality service
2. Changing and improving
3. Leadership.

You can find out more about Success Profiles Behaviours, here: Behaviour levels - Success profiles: candidate guide - gov.scot

Other professional information

Statistics profession in Scottish Government

Scottish Government statistics group sharepoint page

Government Statistical Service and Statistician Group

How to apply

Apply online, providing a CV and supporting statement (of no more than 1500 words) providing evidence of how you meet the behaviours and technical skills listed in the Success Profile above. Both the CV and the supporting statement provided will be assessed against the criteria for the role.

If invited for further assessment, this will consist of an interview and presentation.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools can be used to support your application, but all statements and examples provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, and presented as your own) applications will be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action.

Please see our candidate guidance for more information on acceptable and unacceptable uses of AI in recruitment.

Assessments are schedule for w/c 19th October 2026, however this date is subject to change.

Sponsorship

Skilled Worker sponsorship is not available for this role. As a result, we are unable to appoint candidates who require Skilled Worker sponsorship now or in the future. Applicants must have an existing and ongoing right to work in the UK.

Recruitment Principles

As a government organisation, we adhere to the Civil Service Commission Recruitment Principles and we investigate any complaints received in relation to recruitment cases.

About us

National Records of Scotland (NRS) is Scotland’s record keeper. Our purpose is to collect, preserve and produce information about Scotland's people and history and make it available to inform current and future generations. We offer rewarding careers and employ people across Scotland in a wide range of professions and roles.

NRS is a Non-Ministerial Department of the Scottish Government & and our staff are part of the UK Civil Service, working for Ministers and senior stakeholders to deliver vital public services which improve the lives of the people of Scotland.

We offer a supportive and inclusive working environment along with a wide range of employee benefits. Find out more about what we offer.

As part of the UK Civil Service, we uphold the Civil Service Nationality Rules.

Working pattern

Our standard hours are 35 hours per week, we offer a range of flexible and hybrid working options depending on the needs of the role. If you have specific questions about the role you are applying for, please contact us.

Equality statement

We are committed to equality and inclusion and we aim to recruit a diverse workforce that reflects the population of our nation.

Find out more about our commitment to diversity and how we offer and support recruitment adjustments for anyone who needs them.

Further information

Find out more about our organisation, what we offer staff members and how to apply on our Careers Website.

Read our Candidate Guide for further information on our recruitment and application processes.

For more information about the role, please contactDelphine Robineau at Delphine.Robineau@nrscotland.gov.uk

Apply before: 25/09/2026 (23:59). This role is open to internal candidates and Common Citizenship Organisations only (external candidates and staff from UK Other Governmental Departments are not eligible to apply for this vacancy.)